When I fell in love with Hip-Hop…….
IT TAKES TIME FOR LOVE TO GROW & DEVELOP into something serious. That’s why it’s actually more than one year I’ll be referencing in this post. I decided to give this one a little “Brown Sugar” (movie) TEAS…but hey… it sets the mood. Hip-Hop music gets such a bad rap (no pun intended). It gets blamed for murders, gang ties, rape, abuse, all types of violence and bad things. You name it…hip-hop is blamed for it. Especially since it has found its way into the home of young white kids over the last 2o plus years and had the nerve to corrupt them. Total sarcasm because like anything else..ANYONE can appreciate hip-hop. Hip-hop like every other music genre evolves and changes throughout time. That’s the beautiful thing about it. Many of us old-school hip-hop heads may not be that into some of this “new-school” rap music, but regardless it’s hip-hop and we still manage to support it in some kind of way. Some of us old heads to indulge in a little ratchetness and trap music regularly. The people who rag on hip-hop are those who have never understood it from the beginning, never took the time to listen and/or couldn’t relate to it in the first place. But just like any other thing people who don’t understand something tend to criticize and talk down on it…find issue with it. To me, that’s perfectly fine because it means that it just wasn’t meant for you. People first need to realize that there’s a difference between hip-hop and rap. There’s a difference between a rapper and an MC. It’s be proved over and over again that anyone can rap. You can go online and find viral videos of a 70-year-old or a 5-year-old rapping. Seriously…you can. Even rappers out here with a dog on the radio aren’t real MC’s. Hip-hop is an art. It takes a real MC to put that art to a rap verse and turn it into real hip-hop. Just like comedy…anyone can be funny, but not everyone can do stand up…same difference. Hip-Hop is much more than just music, it’s a lifestyle. From the music, to the clothes, to the attitude, to the art including graffiti…so many things make up hip-hop culture. Living a particular “lifestyle” doesn’t make you a bad person, a gangster, a thug or any other degrading labels the media likes to give hip-hop heads; namely black people. It simply makes you have a love and appreciation for something…there’s a connection to it. I don’t mind saying that I’m a proud product of the hip-hop generation and that my infatuation with it is real.
I’ve always loved hip-hop…everything about it. I remember first understanding what type of music it was when I was around six years old. The first song I remember actually listening to and getting a grasp of hip-hop was “Push It” by Salt ’n’ Pepa around 1986. Of course I didn’t know what the song meant or anything like that…all I knew was I loved it. I loved the beat, the catchy lyrics and the clothes from the music video. It was just something different. I remember first hearing “Eric B is the President,” “Paul Revere” who doesn’t think that is one of the illest beats EVER!!!??? Kurtis Blow! I remember all of that. Then over the next few years it just continued to blow up. Hip-Hop was everywhere on the radio, on TV, in magazines and even in the movies. All of this before I was even 10 years old. I was falling in love and didn’t even know it. LL Cool J (I’m Bad was the first hip-hop RECORD, yes vinyl record SINGLE, that I bought myself and I was so proud), Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, NWA, so many more. Then I heard one song that changed my perception altogether of hip-hop and started to look at it as a movement. That song was “Self Destruction.” This song was a collaboration of the top hip-hop artists (mainly New York based) in the game and the song centered on telling people to wake up and see what’s going on around us in the streets. The killing, the drugs, the robbing, etc. Everything that was destroying our communities. Sadly, not much has changed over 25 years after that song was released. I was 10 years old when this song came out and it opened my eyes and showed a different side of hip-hop. This was a side that still to this day many people don’t see because it’s always overshadowed by the negative side of the rap game. However, positivity still exist.
Everything changed for me when I was over my cousin’s house when I was around 11 years old and he was playing A Tribe Called Quest album “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” and one verse got me…Phife Dawg’s flow on “Can I Kick It?” I MEAN!!! EVERYTHING!!! “Can I kick it? To my Tribe that flows in layers. Right now, Phife is a poem sayer. At times, I’m a studio conveyor. Mr. Dinkins, would you please be my mayor?” “Bonita Applebum,” “Rhythm,” “Footprints”…WHAT????? After we left their house I begged my mom to stop by the record store (remember those) so that I can purchase the tape myself (remember those). That was the first full length hip-hop album that I bought myself. Best investment in the world. I would listen to that tape over and over again. Learning every word on it. I think The Low End Theory may have also been out as well; so of course I had to buy that tape as well. Another instant classic album from the legendary group. “Check The Rhyme,” “Scenario” and many more classic ATCQ hits. From that point on ATCQ became my favorite hip-hop group and still is oil this day. RIP to Phife Dawg who was not only one of my top 5 favorite MC’s of all time, but one of the best ever. His verses are legendary in hip-hop…music period.
In saying all of that the year I fell in love with hip-hop and never looked back was 1991 and it stole my heart in 1992 and by 1993 I was completely in love. Everything I listed prior to that had courted me into falling in love. Still to this day, hip-hop has my heart. Remember when the haters were saying hip-hop was this thing that was supposed to fade out within a few years. HAHAHAHA!!! The crazy thing is people still to this day think it’s going to go away eventually. No other music genre…just hip-hop. BYEEEEEEE!!!! No ma’am! In saying all of this…I want want to take a moment to recognize these classics and why it was so easy to fall in love with hip-hop. So let’s take a moment and check out a list of albums released between 1991-1993, and you be the judge. Do you agree? What was your favorite year in hip-hop? When did you fall in love with hip-hop? I really think this was a great few years in hip-hop. These lists are EVERYTHING!!!
1991
| Release Date | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| January 15 | DJ Quik | Quik Is the Name |
| Gang Starr | Step in the Arena | |
| January 22 | Digital Underground | This Is an EP Release |
| February 12 | Master P | Get Away Clean |
| February 19 | GZA | Words from the Genius |
| March 12 | Boogie Down Productions | Live Hardcore Worldwide |
| April 30 | Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs | Life of a Kid in the Ghetto |
| May 14 | De La Soul | De La Soul Is Dead |
| Ice-T | O.G. Original Gangster | |
| KMD | Mr. Hood | |
| May 28 | Jodeci | Forever My Lady |
| N.W.A | Niggaz4Life | |
| June 25 | Pete Rock & CL Smooth | All Souled Out |
| July 2 | Slick Rick | The Ruler’s Back |
| Geto Boys | We Can’t Be Stopped | |
| July 9 | DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince | Homebase |
| July 16 | Compton’s Most Wanted | Straight Checkn ‘Em |
| July 23 | Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch | Music for the People |
| Main Source | Breaking Atoms | |
| July 30 | Leaders of the New School | A Future Without a Past… |
| August 6 | P.M. Dawn | Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience |
| August 13 | Cypress Hill | Cypress Hill |
| August 27 | Biz Markie | I Need a Haircut |
| September 3 | Naughty by Nature | Naughty by Nature |
| Poor Righteous Teachers | Pure Poverty | |
| Queen Latifah | Nature of a Sista | |
| September 17 | MC Lyte | Act Like You Know |
| Nice & Smooth | Ain’t a Damn Thing Changed | |
| WC and the Maad Circle | Ain’t a Damn Thang Changed | |
| September 24 | A Tribe Called Quest | The Low End Theory |
| October 1 | Public Enemy | Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Back |
| October 8 | Freestyle Fellowship | To Whom It May Concern… |
| Scarface | Mr. Scarface Is Back | |
| October 15 | Digital Underground | Sons of the P |
| U.M.C.’s | Fruits of Nature | |
| Schoolly D | How a Black Man Feels | |
| October 22 | Black Sheep | A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing |
| Del the Funky Homosapien | I Wish My Brother George Was Here | |
| October 29 | Big Daddy Kane | Prince of Darkness |
| Ice Cube | Death Certificate | |
| Organized Konfusion | Organized Konfusion | |
| November 6 | Run-D.M.C. | Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991 |
| November 12 | Tim Dog | Penicillin on Wax |
| 2Pac | 2Pacalypse Now | |
| November 19 | Tone Lōc | Cool Hand Lōc |
1992
| Release Date | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| February 4 | Sir Mix-a-Lot | Mack Daddy |
| February 11 | Lord Finesse | Return of the Funky Man |
| February 25 | Boogie Down Productions | Sex and Violence |
| Fu-Schnickens | F.U. Don’t Take It Personal | |
| February 26 | Ganksta N-I-P | The South Park Psycho |
| March 3 | The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy | Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury |
| March 17 | Kris Kross | Totally Krossed Out |
| Ultramagnetic MCs | Funk Your Head Up | |
| March 24 | Arrested Development | 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of… |
| April 7 | Das EFX | Dead Serious |
| April 14 | Spice 1 | Spice 1 |
| April 16 | X-Raided | Psycho Active |
| Totally Insane | Direct from the Backstreet | |
| April 20 | Master P | Mama’s Bad Boy |
| April 21 | Beastie Boys | Check Your Head |
| April 26 | UGK | The Southern Way |
| April 27 | Doug E. Fresh | Doin’ What I Gotta Do |
| May 5 | Gang Starr | Daily Operation |
| June 9 | Pete Rock & CL Smooth | Mecca and the Soul Brother |
| Twista | Runnin’ Off at da Mouth | |
| June 23 | Eric B. & Rakim | Don’t Sweat the Technique |
| June 30 | MC Ren | Kizz My Black Azz |
| July 14 | Too Short | Shorty the Pimp |
| July 20 | DJ Quik | Way 2 Fonky |
| July 28 | EPMD | Business Never Personal |
| House of Pain | House of Pain | |
| August 1 | UGK | Banned |
| August 3 | Brand New Heavies | Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1 |
| September 4 | Big Mello | Bone Hard Zaggin |
| September 15 | Public Enemy | Greatest Misses |
| September 16 | RBL Posse | A Lesson to Be Learned |
| September 22 | Da Lench Mob | Guerillas in tha Mist |
| Diamond D | Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop | |
| Showbiz & A.G. | Runaway Slave | |
| September 29 | Compton’s Most Wanted | Music to Driveby |
| October 6 | Common | Can I Borrow a Dollar? |
| Redman | Whut? Thee Album | |
| October 20 | Grand Puba | Reel to Reel |
| November 3 | Positive K | The Skills Dat Pay da Bills |
| Geto Boys | Uncut Dope: Geto Boys’ Best | |
| November 10 | UGK | Too Hard to Swallow |
| November 17 | Ice Cube | The Predator |
| November 24 | Kool G Rap & DJ Polo | Live and Let Die |
| Paris | Sleeping with the Enemy | |
| The Pharcyde | Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde | |
| December 15 | Dr. Dre | The Chronic |
| Eazy-E | 5150: Home 4 tha Sick |
1993
| January 12 | Heavy D & the Boyz | Blue Funk |
| January 26 | King T | Tha Triflin’ Album |
| February 3 | Brand Nubian | In God We Trust |
| February 9 | Digable Planets | Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) |
| February 16 | 2Pac | Strictly 4 My Niggaz |
| Kam | Neva Again | |
| February 23 | Naughty by Nature | 19 Naughty III |
| March 16 | Kid Rock | The Polyfuze Method |
| March 19 | Geto Boys | Till Death Do Us Part |
| March 23 | Ice-T | Home Invasion |
| March 30 | LL Cool J | 14 Shots to the Dome |
| Lords of the Underground | Here Come the Lords | |
| Onyx | Bacdafucup | |
| April 13 | Mobb Deep | Juvenile Hell |
| April 27 | Freestyle Fellowship | Innercity Griots |
| May 4 | Run-D.M.C. | Down with the King |
| Masta Ace Incorporated | SlaughtaHouse | |
| May 18 | Guru | Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 |
| May 19 | The Roots | Organix |
| May 25 | Big Daddy Kane | Looks Like a Job For… |
| June 1 | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Faces of Death |
| June 2 | Biz Markie | All Samples Cleared! |
| June 17 | Dre Dog | The New Jim Jones |
| June 22 | MC Lyte | Ain’t No Other |
| July 6 | 8Ball & MJG | Comin’ Out Hard |
| July 12 | Mac Mall | Illegal Business? |
| July 20 | Cypress Hill | Black Sunday |
| July 27 | Fat Joe | Represent |
| August 3 | Kris Kross | Da Bomb |
| August 10 | Ultramagnetic MCs | The Four Horsemen |
| August 17 | Scarface | The World Is Yours |
| August 24 | Tha Alkaholiks | 21 & Over |
| September 21 | De La Soul | Buhloone Mindstate |
| September 28 | KRS-One | Return of the Boom Bap |
| Souls of Mischief | 93 ’til Infinity | |
| Spice 1 | 187 He Wrote | |
| October 5 | Digital Underground | The Body-Hat Syndrome |
| October 12 | DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince | Code Red |
| Salt-n-Pepa | Very Necessary | |
| Leaders of the New School | T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind’s Eye) | |
| October 19 | Black Moon | Enta da Stage |
| Eazy-E | It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa | |
| Erick Sermon | No Pressure | |
| October 26 | Shaquille O’Neal | Shaq Diesel |
| Too Short | Get in Where You Fit In | |
| November 9 | A Tribe Called Quest | Midnight Marauders |
| Wu-Tang Clan | Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | |
| November 10 | E-40 | Federal |
| Too Short | Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Player Years, 1983-1988 | |
| November 16 | Das EFX | Straight Up Sewaside |
| MC Ren | Shock of the Hour | |
| Queen Latifah | Black Reign | |
| November 23 | Snoop Dogg | Doggystyle |
| Del the Funky Homosapien | No Need for Alarm | |
| December 7 | Ice Cube | Lethal Injection |
| December 21 | Jodeci | Diary of a Mad Band |
